Clothespin



Patented ocr. 1'5, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT A(HTFICE 2,409,379'-r y CLOTHESPIN l 'F.arl Mosaly, Eagle Rock, Calif.VA i v'Application Nvember 4, 1944,"seria1Na'5c1Qa45 This invention relates to a clothes pin.

The general object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective clothes pin which can be economically manufactured of material such as plastic.

A more specific object of the invention is t provide a clothes pin comprising a pair of members which may be molded 0r otherwise made and which are joined by a spring member which provides the double function of providing a pivot support and also urging the two arms of the clothes pin together.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a clothes pin including a pair of molded members having spring receiving cavities therein.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an improved spring construction for urging the arms of the clothes pin towards each other.

An additional obj ect of the invention is to provide a clothes pin including arms having aligned holes in the gripping portion to facilitate drying clothes which engage the clothesline.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing my improved clothes pin;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the clothes pin;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the clothes pin taken on line 3-3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on line 4 4, Fig 3;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing a modified spring, and

Fig. 6 is a top plan View of the modied spring.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, I have shown my invention as embodied in a clothes pin which is indicated generally at il). As shown the clothes pin includes a pair of arms I| which are identical. The arms II are preferably made of plastic material although they may be made of any other material having the desired properties.

Each arm includes a body I I' having a gripping portion I2 at the front end and having an operating portion I3 at the rear end. Each arm in the gripping portion is provided with a notch I4. The notches are aligned to provide a recess I5 through which the clothes line passes. Each of the arms has a hole I6 therethrough in alignment with the notches I4. `The holes I6 provide ventilation and cause quicker` drying of the portion of the clothes which engage the clothes line.

1 Claim. ('Cl. 24-137) The outer surface of each arm is slightly arcuate as at I8. On the inside each arm includes a straight 'forward portion I9 and a straight rearward portion 20 which are arranged at an obtuse angle as shown in the drawing.

Each arm. near the gripping portion has an elongated recess 2| in the inner face thereof. At the inner end the recess 2| terminates in a substantially semi-cylindrical shaped groove 22. At the forward end the body includes an overhanging portion 23 which overhangs the front portion of each recess 2| to form a shoulder.

To pivot the arms and also to give them the desired resilient gripping action, I provide a spring 23 which includes a substantially cylindrical portion 24. The portion 24 is arranged in the recesses 22 of a pair of the arms. The portion 24 includes a pair of legs 25 which are substantially parallel when the clothes pin arms are closed. The portions 25 extend forwardly and their free ends 26 are arranged beneath the shoulders 23. Thus the spring serves as a pivot for the arms which turn about the cylindrical portion 24 and also serve to press the arms together due to the engagement of the free end of the springs with the shoulder 23.

In assembly one leg 25 of the spring is arranged beneath the shoulder 23 on one arm and the cylindrical portion of the spring is arranged in the recess 22 of the arm. VThereafter the other arm is arranged adjacent to the first arm and the free end of the other leg of the spring is moved into the groove 2| and beneath the shoulder 23 of the other arm, whereupon the recess 22 in the other arm engages the cylindrical portion 24 of the spring to hold the parts in assembled position. i

In the gripping portion I3 I provide a recess 21 which extends from the semi-cylindrical recess 22 rearwardly. This recess provides a stiiening iiange 28 which provides ample strength for the operation of the clothes pin.

In Fig. 5 I show a modified spring member 3U. The spring member 24 is preferably a leaf spring While the spring 3U shown in Fig. 5 consists of a wire having several turns 3| which form a cylindrical portion. From the portion 3| two legs 32 and 33 extend. The legs 32 and 33 have inwardly extending ends 34 and 35 respectively which eX- tend beneath the shoulders 23. The spring 30 is inserted in the same manner as that described above.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have invented a novel clothes pin which can be readily manufactured and. which is highly eilcient for its intended purpose.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A clothes pin comprising a pair of arms, said arms being identical, each arm including a body having a gripping portion and an operating portion, each arm gripping portion having an elongated recess extending along the inne1I face thereof, each recess terminating near the free end of the associated gripping portion, each body adjacent to the free end of the gripping portion including a portion overhanging one end of the recess to provide a shoulder, the end of each recess remote from the shoulder having a substantially semicylindrical groove therein, the grooves being complemental and a spring including a pair of legs joined by a substantially cylindrical intermediate portion, the cylindrical shaped intermediate portion of the spring being seated in the grooves of said arms, the entire outer periphery of the spring cylindrical portion contacting the walls of the grooves, the legs of the spring extending along the gripping portion and being arranged in said recesses, the length of the spring legs being substantially equal to the length of the recesses, the resiliency of the spring being such that the legs of said springs are normally urged towards each other, the free ends of said spring legs being disposed beneath the shoulders, said arms in the gripping portions having opposed notches therein, the notches being aligned to receive a clothes line and said arms having holes therethrough aligned with the notches.

EARL IVL MOSALY. 

